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CCC Hosts Vigil for V-Tech

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<b>MOURNING: At the official UC Irvine vigil for Virginia Tech administrators offered support to students.</b>

By Anam Siddiq
Staff Writer

In a vigil hosted by the Cross Cultural Center and UC Irvine Student Affairs, candles were passed out to hundreds of students, faculty and friends who had gathered on April 23 to give a final salute to all those killed and injured at the hands of one unstable man.

Exactly one week earlier, the sun rose in Blacksburg, Virg. on a truly unfortunate scene. By the next week, the tragic events that had occurred at Virginia Polytechnic Institute were common knowledge, and although students across the campus had already held numerous vigils, UCI felt compelled to officially honor the victims in a formal ceremony.

The event, advertised by the CCC, was also publicized by e-mails sent by Chancellor Michael Drake and included speakers from UCI administration, including Vice Chancellor Manuel Gomez and Dean of Students Sally Peterson. Irvine Mayor Beth Krom and Orange County Human Relations Representative Ken Inouye were also asked to speak at the vigil, as well as two student representatives, ASUCI President Stephanie Johnson and Korean American Student Association Rep Rheela Kim.

At 6:45 p.m., student musician Andrew Heringer began the ceremony with penetrating music played on his acoustic guitar. At the end an uncommonly serene silence befell Ring Road as the chattering crowd delved into quiet contemplation.

Peterson was introduced, and emphasized that the program was one of remembrance. As she listed the names of the victims, the wind rustled through the crowd and blew out the candles.

Gomez then read a message from Drake, who was in Washington, and assured the crowd that in the aftermath of this terrible event, the administration would "redouble [its] efforts to confirm the safety of the students and faculty on this campus." Gomez continued, saying that even though Irvine is one of the safest cities in the world, UCI and Virginia Tech shared many similarities, including "stunned sorrow and common grief." He further reminisced upon some of the heroes of the Virginia Tech shootings and requested the crowd to pray for killer Cho Seung-Huis&#39; family who was said to be feeling "helpless, hopeless and lost."

Krom expressed her belief that "sometimes it takes a tragedy to bring a community together," and as proof she brought a family who worked for the Kids Who Care Club, a foundation that makes quilts for kids who have undergone major surgeries. The children who made a beautiful quilt with patches for each victim which was going to be sent to the university from the City of Irvine.

Inouye verbalized the importance of refraining from letting the actions of a single individual reflect an entire ethnic community, reminding the students that despite everything "today, and for every tomorrow, we are all Americans."

After the student speakers had expressed their sympathy for the tragedy and rallied the students to work together as a community, Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Cross Cultural Center Ana Gonzalez related the rest of the week&#39;s events, which included emotional distress, relief and open discussions about the Virginia Tech shootings. She also urged everyone present to write on the two boards set up for the students to express their thoughts, sentiments and prayers. By the end of the day, the boards were covered with such things as personal notes from students to artwork by sororities and fraternities.

The vigil appropriately ended with Diedre Butler&#39;s "In the Arms of an Angel," the most heart-rending part of the entire ceremony. Some people were moved to tears and sought comfort in the arms of friends, while others sat in deep reflection. Blair Hollingsworth, a first-year drama major attending the proceedings, described the entire vigil as "beautiful and well-planned."

The deaths of 32 people tragically killed on that terrible day brought a community together. Members of the crowd were drawn closer to each other as a group and all race, ethnicity, gender and religious differences were forgotten as students left their identities as UCI Anteaters and became one with the Virginia Tech students. As Gomez so rightfully put it, "This evening, we are all Hokies in spirit."

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Original Source:<a href=http://www.newuniversity.org/showArticle.php?id=5754>New University - April 30, 2007</a>

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Pres. Mourns V.Tech Tragedy at Town Hall Meeting

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By: Matt Williams
Posted: 5/7/07

On April 18, 2007 President Richard Joel hosted this semester&#39;s town hall meeting on the Beren Campus at 215 Lexington. The assembly was attended by more than one hundred students, and although the vast majority of students were from Stern College for Women, a few men from Yeshiva College made the trek to the mid-afternoon gathering. In years past there have been two events, one held on the Wilf Campus and the other on the Beren Campus. "There was a scheduling conflict this year," said one administrator, and the meeting that was supposed to take place on the Wilf Campus was cancelled.

"To dismiss something as important as a town hall meeting with a simple and solvable scheduling conflict is ridiculous," one student said. Although there was no town hall meeting on the Wilf Campus this semester, the President&#39;s office did decide to hold meetings for any interested student on Monday April 30, 2007.

This event came in the wake of the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech. President Joel offered his condolences and his thoughts about being charged with the safekeeping of Yeshiva University students. From there he discussed the importance of a learning community and how education should not stop once one is outside of class. His speech placed the meeting in context, implying that all the audience was working toward a common goal and subtly forcing even the most harsh of accusations to either remain unsaid or to be phrased in the best possible way.

The town hall meeting began with an introduction by the dean of Stern College for Women, Dr. Karen Bacon. She spoke about how President Joel is unique among university presidents. "He makes himself available... [he is] a visible presence on campus."

After the president&#39;s aforementioned speech, he opened the floor to questions. Many of the questions were aimed at the disconcerting conflict between the university&#39;s expansion policy and its lack of available housing and classrooms. The president informed the audience that a new building in midtown will be open in the fall of 2007 and that, although Stern is located in an expensive area, the university has made the commitment to keep them there.

The president also responded to a question dealing with the apparent apathy for the Virginia Tech situation in the Yeshiva student body. President Joel responded that, although it is not complete apathy since there was a prayer rally and a blog for condolences, there is a real and tangible problem which is the strict definition of community inherent at YU. He acknowledged that "within our bubble of Washington Heights" it is sometimes difficult to view those in the beyond as our brothers, but it is a challenge that bequeaths us all to undertake.

The last question that was raised centered around the diverse religious elements within the student body. Simply, should YU be a university for only those orthodox Jews who subscribe to the same understanding of secular studies? President Joel answered that although that is the ideal, the truth is that students who enter college really do not know how they are going to end up. While they search for their particular path, Yeshiva University can provide them with the guidance of some of the greatest rabbis in the world, the shelter of a multi-million dollar campus, and arm them with an outstanding education that can help them understand and appreciate their world.

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Mourners pack Tech after attack

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<b>Community tries to come to terms with horrific attack</b>

Maria Tchijov, Cavalier Daily Life Editor

BLACKSBURG, Va.-- In a day filled with a constant barrage of media images of the shooter who took the lives of at least three of her friends and 29 others,Behnaz Bonyadian took solace as thousands of people patiently filed into Cassell Coliseum and Lane Stadium yesterday afternoon. The convocation ceremonyincluded remarks from U.S. President George W. Bush and Gov. Tim Kaine.

It was a "massive display of respect," the Virginia Tech junior said, observing the crowd. Nearly all entering the somber event wore Hokie maroon and orange as they donned memorial ribbons. During the ceremony, various public officials including Bush and Virginia Tech President Charles Steger offered words of solace to the community.

"No words truly express the depth of sadness we feel," Steger said after he received a prolonged standing ovation. "Words are very weak symbols of our emotions at times like this."

President and Laura Bush were in attendance at the event, and Bush addressed the university on behalf of the nation.

"We&#39;ve come to express our sympathy," he said. "In this time of anguish, I hope you know that people all over this country are thinking of you and asking God to provide comfort for all who have been affected."

Throughout the southwestern Virginia campus, students, university employees and faculty members tried to comprehend the senseless tragedy.

Choices Monday morning

Senior Kate Stuck of Granby, Conn. was sitting in class in Pamplin Hall Monday morning when she heard about the situation. One of her classmates, who had a laptop, received the first e-mail sent out at 9:26 a.m.

"We knew something was going on," Stuck said.

Her fears were confirmed when her boyfriend, under lockdown in Randall Hall, called her cell phone.

Unlike Stuck, Chris Cooke learned about the shooting first-hand through the first e-mail sent out about the attacks by the administration, and he decided not to go to class. He e-mailed his professor and asked to make up the lab. He said at that point he felt his personal safety was more important then the inconvenience of an 8 a.m. Friday make-up lab.

"It kind of makes you wonder if you are safe anywhere," said Anthony Linkous, a 25-year veteran maintenance worker for Virginia Tech. He said his wife called him frantically every half-hour, begging him to come home.

Addressing the situation

Two weeks ago, Amie Steele took over as editor-in-chief of The Collegiate Times, Tech&#39;s student newspaper. On Monday, she found herself in the middle of an international media hailstorm as her phone rang off the hook.

"Breaking news isn&#39;t my forte yet," she said, explaining that she rose through the ranks on the production staff, specializing in layout and design.

During the 24 hours following the shooting, Steele managed to sleep for an hour and a half.

For her, the most overwhelming part of the experience has been the international media presence.

"We are trying to get our own stories, conduct our own interviews, and they keep on calling," she said. "It&#39;s difficult to juggle."

Overall, however, she said she feels the media has approached the issue with sensitivity and has been respectful of the personal nature of the evolving situation.

The intense media attention on the shooting has forced university administrators and police officials into the unexpected position of answering not just to their local community, but to throngs of media outlets and their readership. To resolve these concerns Gov. Time Kaine, at the request of Steger and Tech&#39;s Board of Visitors, has commissioned an independent panel to review the way the incident was handled.

"It&#39;s the most horrific thing that has ever happened," said Laurel Stell, a senior from Charlottesville. "At first everyone was angry at Steger for not locking down the campus, [but] they never meant for anyone to get hurt."

Stell noted that because the gunman lived in a dorm and thus had a dorm key, he could have easily gotten into any residential area.

While students like Stell do not assign blame to the administration, other students and media outlets have done so. Some groups and individuals focused on other issues, such as gun control, have also jumped on the issue. Gov. Tim Kaine expressed his disdain for this behavior.

"People who want to take this event 24 hours afterwards and make this their political hobbyhorse, I&#39;ve got nothing but loathing for them," Kaine said in a press conference.

What next?

After addressing the significant dislocation and emotional trauma caused by the incident, the Virginia Tech community must prepare to resume core educational operations. Yesterday administrators announced that classes would be canceled until at least Monday. Norris Hall, home of the civil engineering department, will be closed for the rest of the semester.

Christina McIntyer, a professor in the human nutrition food and exercise department, remains optimistic that the university community will emerge intact.

"We&#39;re a strong community," she said. "If anything, this will bring us closer. It&#39;ll be a day we remember."

Cooke, a civil engineering major, said in the long-term he was concerned not only about the future location of his department but about the outcome of his coursework and grades.

He said he had several exams in the next few weeks and he was not sure if they would be pushed back or canceled.

But, even in the face of uncertainty relating to his academic career, Cooke said he did not want to be "standing idly by."

He and fellow members of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity got together to donate blood yesterday to help stave off Blacksburg&#39;s severe blood shortage.

The charitable activities in which many students are engaging provide much needed hope.

But for graduating seniors, Monday&#39;s events place a permanent stain on the bright celebrations of future opportunities many had been looking forward to.

"Graduation is now more of a memorial than a celebration," said Andrew Stone, a senior from Charlotte, N.C.

Monday&#39;s events have not only left a mark on the students leaving Tech, but also on the many potential new members of the university community.

"It is going to make people think twice about coming to Tech," Linkous said. "People want to know they&#39;re safe."

One of the core challenges everyone sees in the response to the tragedy is moving forward in a manner deferential to the victims of Monday&#39;s massacre.

"We&#39;ve got to get back into it sometime," Linkous said. "But we have to remember what happened."

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V-Tech: Chain of Reactions

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We were supposed to do a project either showing ourselves perceptually or in response to the Virginia Tech shootings. Since I already have a self-portrait for pretty much every year of my life, I decided to do the latter.

After watching the Cho footage and some other student-captured footage on YouTube, I tried to think of the different reactions people might have and sketched out a rough group of people. I ended up adding some more words later. I also added some newspaper clippings related to the shootings.

The puzzle pieces represent a concept I was thinking about. Originally I had come up with "Nobody wants to have a view of the world with pieces that are missing, just like no one is satisfied with a puzzle that can&#39;t be completed" in regards to the importance of protecting endangered species, but it works here too... think about all the families and friends that lost someone close to them in the blink of an eye. Now there are empty spaces in their lives where those people should have been, but now aren&#39;t because of this... Yeah, cheesey, but I like my analogy.

I threw in some silver you can&#39;t see for all the black. All the eyes are either orange or maroon (the school&#39;s colors) as well as a few of the puzzle pieces.

I admit I rushed, but the teacher liked it, but then this one student who likes to give me (and only me, apparently) constructive criticism all the time said the two figures on the left were the same height and took away from the rest of the drawing, and that they should be cropped out. I&#39;ve looked at it and I -guess- I see what he means, but I like the composition like it is, honestly, and the girl about to pray (who reminds me of Kraehe from Princess Tutu) is one of my favorites), so... O_o And then everyone got into a big discussion over whether it took away from it or not and I just sat there and muttered "wow, we&#39;re arguing". Seriously... I think maybe he thinks I think too highly of my own work because the teacher praises me all the time (I really haven&#39;t liked much of the work I did in class at all, and always try to criticise myself - which doesn&#39;t work cuz Richard&#39;s always like "WTC?"). I liked Lindsay&#39;s and Scott&#39;s pieces. I really liked Lindsay&#39;s, it was way neat.

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Virginia Tech

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Anyone who is not living an incredibly secluded life (if you are, can I join you there?) has probably heard about the tragedy at Virginia Tech. where a gunman killed some 33 people, including himself. I&#39;ve struggled whether to weigh in on this or not, but I felt that I would do so because I feel like a lot of the subtext of what is being said is awful.

First and foremost, as a Christian, I am praying for those actually affected by this. Friends, families and Virginia Tech&#39;s students and faculty are hurting right now. God of all comfort, be near to them and somehow work this evil towards good. Christ, have mercy.

I implore people to not use this as a springboard for their agendas. Gun control lobbyists, anti-video game lobbyists and people of this ilk: I&#39;m talking about you. While you may have some valid points, just shut up for a while and grieve with those who are mourning.

I also understand that, in pain, people want someone to blame. Since the killer committed suicide, he does not prevent the convenient target. Please don&#39;t turn the school&#39;s president and the the chief of campus police into scapegoats to satisfy your pain-fueled desire for justice. Guess what: there won&#39;t be any here. The pain won&#39;t go away just because you feel like you have someone to blame.

To the news media: you disgust me. Human suffering is not a commodity to be packaged, sensationalized and delivered to consumers. You&#39;re a pack of vultures; a bunch of parasites of pain. Stop giving voice to the lobbyists who want to twist this for their own cause. Learn to listen, learn to suffer with those who are suffering. Tell us what&#39;s happening, and get the hell out of the way. Please.

To those who will inevitably say, "let&#39;s ensure this never happens again," I have news for you: you can&#39;t do that. What you can do is learn to live a life that is full of joy and pain amidst many uncertainties. I&#39;m not saying that nothing can be done, but I am saying that fear and pain do not drive anyone to make good decisions about the way things can be.

Every crisis is an opportunity. Let us not miss out, no matter how ugly the package this crisis came in.

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very sad

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I left Blacksburg close to three years ago after attending Virginia Tech for both undergraduate and graduate school. I never thought that my sleepy alma mater tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains could be the site of such a horrific tragedy. My friends from VT have all expressed a desire to be in Blacksburg right now to take part in the grieving. We also agree that for now it is the place of the current students and faculty to deal with the loss within the local community. Since I couldn&#39;t be at the candlelight vigil tonight, this is my small display of solidarity.

I&#39;m thankful that my remaining friends in Blacksburg are safe. My thoughts go out to the current residents of Blacksburg and everyone that is involved personally in this senseless tragedy.